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    Kava exposure reports rise, often combined with kratom

    By Robyn Oster
    April 2026

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report on kava-related exposure reports, using data from the National Poison Data System 2000-2025.

    The details: Kava is a plant native to the Pacific Islands that is traditionally consumed in religious and cultural ceremonies. But in the U.S., the central nervous system depressant is sold as unregulated concentrated extracts and ready-to-drink beverages and commonly marketed as a healthy alternative to alcohol.

    • Why it’s important: It emerged in the late 1990s and has experienced renewed growth and product diversification since the 2010s. Reports of liver toxicity and co-use with kratom have raised safety concerns.

    The findings: Kava-related exposure reports declined sharply after a 2002 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory on kava-associated severe liver injury but have risen steadily since 2011, reaching 203 reported exposures in 2025.

    • Reports primarily involved men aged 20+, but demographic characteristics have changed over time. Reports involving children have been rare in recent years.
    • Since 2017, reports involving combined use of kava and kratom have increased, reaching 30% of all kava reports in 2025. These increases have coincided with higher rates of serious medical outcomes, which have approximately doubled.

    Next steps: Enhanced surveillance, increased clinical awareness, and targeted education might help reduce risks from kava and its co-use with kratom.